No bus fare hike yet, says LTFRB-7 Director Cuizon

CEBU bus commuters will still pay P6 minimum fare since the petition for the proposed fare adjustment still has to be heard and approved.

Regional Director Ahmed G. Cuizon of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas clarified this yesterday after Cebu bus operators and the Capitol signed an agreement on Monday to implement the official fare level of P8.50 for the first five kilometers, after four years of undercharging.

Cuizon, who attended the Capitol meeting, said the bus operators still have to file a petition for fare adjustment that will be sent to the LTFRB in Manila.

He said that it would take at least two months for the board in Manila to decide on the petition.

The bus operators want to reinstate a 2008 fare adjustment where passengers pay P8.50 for the first five kilometers and P1.40 for the succeeding kilometers.

Since 2011, bus operators agreed to a fare rollback citing market forces and to prevent cutthroat competition.

The present minimum bus fare is P6 for the first five kilometers and P1.20 for the succeeding kilometers.

Cuizon said he hasn’t received any petition yet from the bus operators.

He warned bus operators not to implement the fare adjustment without LTFRB approval.

He said the bus operators and driver would be penalized for overcharging if they would be caught collecting the proposed fare adjustment. /Correspondent Jessa Christina Marie J. Agua